Orphaned and abandoned, JD's only hope is a man with his mouth sewn shut.

JD's father has been burnt alive by the Silver Men. His mother has run away. Lost in the desert without water, JD meets a strange old man whose mouth has been sewn shut. That man's secret will save his life. The search for his mother leads JD to the City, where he must face the true horrors of life under the Silver Men. Trapped inside the Pits of enslaved children scraping for water, he must risk everything and everyone he has ever loved in order to survive. BOONIE is a story of bravery, friendship, loss and hope that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.

ABOUT THE AUTHORRichard Masson (1943-2013) was born during the Second World War and lived in East London until he joined the Merchant Navy at the age of sixteen. Over a period of twenty years Richard travelled the high seas, qualifying as a ship's officer and once delivering a tug boat from Rotterdam to Bahrain. Although Richard tested out his 'land legs' in a series of jobs - manufacturing everything from cars to furniture - he realised aged forty that he didn't make a very good employee, so started his own successful Telecommunications company. After retiring, Richard split his time between writing full-time, and sailing yachts with his wife exploring the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas.

REVIEWSA compelling dystopian adventure tackling bravery, friendship and freedom against the harsh backdrop of a world without water.', Children's Previews: January, The Bookseller

'Novels that tap into anxiety about the future of the planet need something extra to stand out and Richard Masson's excellent debut, Boonie, has a harrowing opening with echoes of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. In a world where water is more precious than gold, knowing how to find it is an affliction as much as a gift.', Geraldine Brennan, The Observer